Plans for London polyclinics unveiled

Plans for the first five polyclinics in London have been unveiled and services are expected to be up and running early next year.

The polyclinics, which will be located in Harrow, Hounslow, Lambeth, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, will enable Londoners to see a GP, undergo a CT scan, visit a physiotherapist, and receive counselling or housing advice in a single place.

Londoners currently have to wait longer to see their GP than anywhere else in the country, but local people will soon be able to book a GP appointment outside of working hours and at weekends.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Polyclinics should also reduce visits to hospital as they will provide urgent care services and treat minor injuries and illnesses.

Ruth Carnall, chief executive of NHS London, said that polyclinics 'will tackle two of the biggest problems in the capital, namely patients finding it difficult to get a GP appointment and the result, which is people turning up at A&E when they should be seeing their family doctor'.

MOST POPULAR

She continued: 'The first five polyclinics are only the beginning. They will show patients the real benefits of more convenient access to a GP and a broader range of services which they currently would have to travel to hospital to receive.'

According to Healthcare for London, no existing GP practices will close as a direct result of the first polyclinics.

However, critics argue that polyclinics will undermine continuity of patient care and jeopardise the patient-doctor relationship.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.